Try This New Hawaiʻi-Based Soda in Local Flavors

It all started when Caesar Ho was a little kid, spending time with his father in the kitchen to mix and make a healthier soda using Sprite and juice.

That was the inspiration behind the idea for Ho to create the Hawaiian Soda Co., a healthier alternative for soda lovers who want a delicious, low-sugar drink without sacrificing taste. When Ho’s mom was diagnosed with diabetes, that was the final push for Ho and his wife, Gina, to launch their own soda company in March 2023.

“Everyone grew up drinking local beverages and we too loved these flavors, but we realized there is just so much sugar. One canned drink often has up to 50 grams—that’s a huge amount of sugar in one drink,” says Gina Ho, co-founder of Hawaiian Soda Co. “We began thinking, there’s gotta be a better way. Hawaiʻi has so much bountiful fruits with amazing flavors right here at home. We wanted to make something that would let the fruit speak for itself, a drink that’s good for family and friends to share.”

Gina and Caesar Ho, the husband-and-wife team behind Hawaiian Soda Co.
Photo: Courtesy of Mana Up—Rachel Adams

Her husband spent nearly two and a half years developing a recipe in their kitchen, mixing juices, soda water and Sprite, just like he did with his father. Once they found a good formula, they hired a food scientist to make things official and certified.

“Since launching Hawaiian Soda Co., it has just been such an amazing ride. We have had so much support from local community,” says Gina Ho.

The fizzy drinks come alive in five flavors: Grapefruit Blush, Lilikoʻi Lychee, Passion Orange Guava, Mango Sunset and Pineapple Citrus. They are crafted using real fruit juice and no artificial flavors, preservatives, caffeine or added sugar. “The OG was our Passion Orange Guava. If you grew up in Hawai‘i, it’s a nostalgic flavor. Everyone knows what it is. It is one of our best sellers,” says Gina Ho.

The pineapple-citrus flavor.
Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiian Soda Co.

“We have messages from customers sharing how they were regular soda drinkers and they are now able to replace traditional soft drinks with our drinks,” says Gina Ho. “When we created this product, we wanted to create a product that’s better for Hawai‘i, but also a representation of the beauty Hawai‘i offers to the rest of the world. We’ve grown tremendously at home and want to take the aloha here and share it abroad.”

She hints at exciting plans in 2024: expansion to the U.S. Mainland and Asia, as well as new flavors they are currently mixing up in the lab.

“Caesar is always thinking about ways on making our world better. Little things like our soda company is part of his vision—it’s something we made out of joy and for the health of everyone,” she says.

You can find single-serve cans on shelves at Foodland, 7 Eleven Hawaiʻi, Down to Earth, Don Quijote, Marukai and several Times Supermarket stores in Hawaiʻi.